Recipe

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Use your boxed waffle mix to make pancakes and enjoy an epic breakfast stack!

For the perfect stack of waffle mix pancakes, make sure to read the batter tips in this post.

large stack of fluffy pancakes topped with fruit

Can You Use Waffle Mix to Make Pancakes?

On vacation, my large family and I nearly always stay at an Airbnb because we like the convenience of having a kitchen to make our meals, especially breakfast since we rarely go anywhere fast.

Instead of buying a big 5lb bag of flour to make pancake batter, I’ll buy pancake mix or waffle mix to make cooking breakfast easier.

If the house has a waffle iron, I’ll buy waffle mix to make waffles one day and use this recipe to make pancakes.

What is the Difference Between Pancake Mix and Waffle Mix?

The ingredients inside boxed pancake mix and waffle mix are nearly identical, flour, baking powder, and salt as a base. The difference between the two is in the amount of wet ingredients (ratios) added to make the batter, which nearly always includes an egg, fat (oil or butter), and liquid (milk or water).

Ingredients

You’ll find the amounts in the recipe card below. But first, check these ingredients and the swaps I’ve tested using waffle mix to make pancakes:

Waffle mix: traditional waffle mix or labeled as Belgian waffle mix. The back of the box will say that you need water, eggs, and oil to make waffles.
Egg: you’ll need one large egg. Unfortunately, using an egg substitute tends to yield flatter pancakes when using a boxed waffle mix.
Liquid: for better-tasting pancakes use milk, traditional or dairy-free. Some waffle mixes have powdered milk in the ingredients (check) in which case use water.
Fat: oil or melted butter for flavor and moisture.

closeup of a stack of pancakes topped with fruit and nuts

How to Make Pancakes with Waffle Mix

The process is similar to making any pancake recipe. However, there are some tips to look for in each step. They include:

Make the batter
When measuring the waffle mix, don’t pack it tightly in the measuring cup or you’ll end up with too-thick batter and dense pancakes. Add the other ingredients to the bowl and use a fork to whisk the egg first, then mix the dry ingredients from the outside in to combine.
Cook the pancakes
Always use a non-stick pan or griddle when cooking pancakes. Heat it first, and once hot, grease it with oil, spray, or butter. Then, pour the pancake batter immediately on the greased hot surface. You’ll know it’s time to flip the pancakes when the edges are defined and bubbles have formed. Cook the other side.
Serve
Stack them high and enjoy topped with your favorite pancake syrups or toppings.

In a tight spot? You can also make pancakes with muffin mix!

Best Toppings for Waffle Pancakes

Your epic stack can be the foundation for incredible pancake toppings like fresh berries, sliced bananas, or chocolate chips. You can also make my strawberry syrup for pancakes or this blueberry syrup, with fresh or frozen berries.

Pancakes made with Waffle Mix

large stack of pancakes topped with banana slices and pineapple

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 15

Use your boxed waffle mix to make pancakes and enjoy an epic breakfast stack!

5 from 14 votes

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Ingredients

1 ½ cups waffle mix
1 ¼ cups water or milk*
1 egg
2 tablespoons melted butter or oil

Instructions

Make the batter:

Measure the waffle mix, without packing it tightly, and add it to a large bowl.
Make a well in the middle and pour the water or milk, egg, and oil or melted butter. Use a fork to break up the egg first, and then mix with a whisk or fork until the batter is smooth. Wait 5 minutes for the batter to set -read the note below*.

Cook the pancakes:

Heat a non-stick griddle or large pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, grease, spray, or melt butter on the hot surface. When using an electric griddle, heat it somewhere between 300 and 350F.
Immediately, pour ¼ cup of pancake batter onto the greased pan. Cook the pancakes for about 2 minutes, until the edges look defined and bubbles form. Flip the pancakes over and cook for another minute on the other side. Remove from the pan onto a plate and cook the remaining pancakes.

Serve:

Serve the pancakes warm, topped with your favorite toppings.

Notes

You can use milk or water to make the batter. However, if the waffle mix already includes powdered milk in the ingredients, you should definitely use water.
The batter texture can vary depending on the waffle mix used. I recommend watching the video for a visual of the pancake batter or cooking a single pancake to test if additional waffle mix or liquid is needed, always adding 1 tablespoon at a time.